GOP candidates for NH governor denounce Hudson resident Tom Alciere’s bid to be convention delegate

CONCORD – It took only three hours for both GOP candidates for governor to denounce ex-state Rep. Tom Alciere’s bid to be a state convention delegate. Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley called upon Republicans Ovide Lamontagne of Manchester and Kevin Smith of Litchfield to condemn Alciere’s latest attempt to win public office. Alciere, a Hudson resident, resigned from the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2000 after media reports about advocating the killing of policemen in his online postings. “Ovide Lamontagne and Kevin Smith should denounce this man and his ignorant, detestable words immediately,” Buckley said in a statement. “The fact that the two major GOP candidates for governor have yet to do so and that the state Republican Party would allow his candidacy at all is shameful. Ovide and Kevin should stand up against this anti-law enforcement and dangerous rhetoric at once and refuse to give him a platform.” Buckley only learned about Alciere’s candidacy for the GOP delegate post Monday after a reporter posted an item on Twitter about it. Alciere showed up at Secretary of State Bill Gardner’s office to sign up last Wednesday, the first day of the candidate filing period. Less than half an hour after Smith was contacted by a reporter Monday, the GOP candidate said he agreed with Buckley’s point of view. “Republicans should oppose Alciere’s bid to be a delegate or anything else in the Republican Party,” Smith tweeted on his own account.